Name and Location

The Cape Wrath Lighthouse marks the most north-westerly point of mainland Great Britain. It is situated in Sutherland, on the far north-west coast of Scotland, at an address of "J2G2+58 Kearvaig, Lairg, IV27 4QQ, Highland, Scotland, UK" (Plus Code). The lighthouse's coordinates are 58°37′32″ N, 5°00′57″ W (decimal: 58.6254769, –4.9991625), and it can be found on the OpenStreetMap at https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=58.6254769&mlon=-4.9991625#map=15/58.6255/-4.9992.

2. Construction and History

The Cape Wrath Lighthouse was designed by Robert Stevenson's civil engineering firm and constructed between 1828 and 1833. The lighthouse was first lit in 1828, with the completion of the keeper's houses in 1833. It was automated in 1998, marking the end of manned operation.

3. Architecture and Materials

The tower is a circular, tapering masonry structure, painted white, with a black lantern roof. The height of the tower is 23 meters (75 feet), and its focal height above sea level is 122 meters (400 feet). The lighthouse is accompanied by four white-washed keepers' cottages, which are now repurposed as holiday lets, tearoom, and small exhibition.

4. Light and Navigation

The original optic was a revolving Fresnel lens on mercury bath with an aperture of 250 mm. The light source post-automation is a high-efficiency lamp/LED array. The characteristic of the light is Fl (4) W 30 s, with a sequence of flash 0.2 seconds, eclipse 3.6 seconds, repeated four flashes followed by a long eclipse of 18.4 seconds. The nominal range is 22 nautical miles.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The lighthouse can be accessed by chartered Minibus from Keoldale (summer months only) or private boat landing at Keoldale Pier. However, it is situated within the Ministry of Defence's Cape Wrath firing range, and access is only possible on non-firing days. A visitor centre and tearoom are open seasonally (May-September), offering light refreshments, a small exhibition on lighthouse history, and panoramic views. Two cottages managed by Highland Holiday Cottages can be booked in advance for self-catering accommodation.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse is perched on cliffs over 100 meters high, overlooking the North Atlantic and Farragon Sands. Panoramic views of Handa Island, Old Man of Stoer, and the Hebridean west coast can be seen. The surrounding area is home to a variety of birdlife, including guillemots, razorbills, gannets, and occasional sea eagles.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

Local legend tells of a solitary keeper hearing ghostly foghorns on stormy nights after the lighthouse's automation in 1998, marking the end of manned operation. The lighthouse was built in response to shipwrecks in the vicinity (19th century), including the loss of the "Clifford" in 1831.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is fully automated since 1998 and monitored and maintained by the Northern Lighthouse Board. Routine visits are made for maintenance, lamp, and lens service.

9. Further Information

For further information on the Cape Wrath Lighthouse, please visit the Northern Lighthouse Board's website at https://www.nlb.org.uk/lighthouses/cape-wrath/, VisitCapeWrath at https://www.visitcapewrath.com/around-cape-wrath/the-lighthouse/, or Canmore (Historic Environment Scotland) record at https://canmore.org.uk/site/7407/cape-wrath-lighthouse.